Terrapin move one of several downtown changes

KALAMAZOO -- A South Kalamazoo Mall retailer is expected to reopen Monday in a new space, part of a small reshuffling on the downtown thoroughfare.

Terrapin World Wide Imports, which has been at 245 S. Kalamazoo Mall for 18 years, closed Thursday for the move one building to the north. It will utilize half the space of what was a Walgreen's pharmacy store until April 2004.

"It'll be nice to have a new space in a new building," said Jeff Neal, owner of Terrapin Inc. "It regenerates things and gets you excited."

The other half of the space has been filled since early this year by hair salon Urban. Urban, which has been in business for about two years, had leased space around the corner at 117 E. South St.

Urban stylist Jaime Visser said the move onto the mall has generated a lot of new business.

"We've gotten quite a few new clients," Visser said. "Visibility is definitely a part of that."

A third leg to the reshuffling involves Fandago Tapas Bistro, a thriving restaurant and tavern that is expected to expand into the space vacated by Terrapin.

In December, Fandango owner Adam Renaud told the Gazette that his 3-year-old restaurant turns away 50 customers on a typical weekend night because it's at capacity.

Terrapin on the move
Adam Main and Chris Neal carry merchandise from Terrapin World Wide Imports, which has been at 245 S. Kalamazoo Mall for 18 years, to their new home one building to the north, on Friday afternoon. Terrapin will utilize half the space of what once was a Walgreen's pharmacy store.
Mark Bugnaski / Kalamazoo Gazette

Although Terrapin's new space won't be any larger than its previous 1,800 square feet, the store is more open and has nine-foot-tall windows facing the mall, Neal said.

"Our new space is one big open floor plan," he said. "It appears to be a bigger space to work with."

The unique store, which will hold an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, features imported clothing, jewelry and art.

These new or expanded shops on the mall add to several recent comings or goings.
Across the street from Fandango, half the space formerly occupied by a Blimpie's submarine sandwich shop was filled by Taco Bob's, which relocated from a walk-up window into the sit-down restaurant space in January. The other half is expected to be filled by South Street Cigar & Wine.

Upscale restaurant Sprout opened in December in the former Sandwich Express storefront at 236 S. Kalamazoo Mall. And Earthly Delights, which had occupied space in the Haymarket Building on East Michigan Avenue, will move onto the mall, taking over Amy Zane's HouseWear and Fervor Art to Wear, 157 S. Kalamazoo Mall.

Zane is closing her store to concentrate on expanding her line of jewelry.
The Wine Loft, a franchise upscale wine bar, is expected to open by June in the ground floor of the Haymarket.